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Competition begins at first-ever Paralympic Military Summit
By Marvin Olberding
// U.S. Paralympics
// September 23, 2005
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| Photo by Tom Kimmell (Tom Kimmell Photography) |
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and Fort Carson hosted the opening day of competition at the first-ever Paralympic Military Summit on Friday.
Thirty-four service members split into two teams and competed in shooting (air rifle), wheelchair fencing and volleyball (sitting and wheelchair) at Fort Carson's Special Events Center. Among the competitors were service members from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
One fencing matchup included two members of the same unit who had been injured just three days apart. Staff Sgt. Johnathan Holsey (College Park, Ga.) came from behind to defeat Staff Sgt. John Shannon (Kimberling, Mo.), 5-4, after Shannon had taken a 4-0 lead.
Holsey lost his leg when an improvised explosive device hit his convoy Nov. 10, 2004. Shannon suffered a traumatic brain injury and lost his left eye as the result of a gunshot wound he received Nov. 13, 2004 in Ar Ramati, Iraq. Both men are still in active duty.
Holsey said the summit was teaching him and other recently disabled service members a valuable lesson.
"It's important for us to realize that if you lose a limb or something like that, it's not over," Holsey said.
The festivities began with opening ceremonies, which were highlighted by remarks from Command Sgt. Maj. Terrance McWilliams and retired Lt. Gen. Wallace 'Chip' Gregson, now the Chief Operating Officer for the USOC.
The morning also featured Dana Bowman (Fort Worth, Texas), a former Army Special Forces soldier and Golden Knight, parachuting into the base. Bowman lost both of his legs in a mid-air collision in 1994, but has continued jumping as well as working as a motivational speaker.
Bowman, who has met several of the service members participating in the summit, said he hoped he could make an impact with the soldiers.
"I'm not an athlete," Bowman said. "These people are out here competing and giving their all. I want to be able to inspire them."
On Saturday, competition will move to the U.S. Olympic Training Center for the shooting (air pistol) and table tennis events, and to the United States Air Force Academy for road cycling and track cycling.
In addition, the USOC will be donating sport wheelchairs Saturday the Walter Reed, Brooke Army and U.S. Naval (Balboa) Medical Centers for service members undergoing rehabilitation.
A second Paralympic Military Summit will take place in San Diego Nov. 8-14 at the Balboa Naval Hosptial and U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.
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